Automatic smudge-kindler.



I. G. VAN NEST & A. J. KILLEEN.

AUTOMATIC SMUDGE KINDLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1913.

Patented July 7, 1914.

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myrrh ISAAC GIDEON VAN NEST AND i orator.

AUTOMATIC SMUDG-E-KINDLER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, IsAAo GIDEON VAN NEST and ANDREW .Iosnrn KILLEEN, citi- Zens of the United States, residing at Los .Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Smudge-Kindlers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to devices for lighting smudges or fires for preventing injury to vegetation, orchard trees, vines, etc, by the formation of frost when the temperature drops to or near the frost point.

The object of the invention is to provide a simpleand convenient device which will be inexpensive to manufacture and distribute and which will be automatic in its action, the control being effected through the differential expansion and contraction of the control parts due to changes in the temperature of the surrounding air.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinationand arrangementsof parts, all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred form of the device embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation with the parts in operated or released position such as would be effectedby a drop in tem perature liableto cause dangerous conditions of the atmosphere.

Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures of the drawings.

, Inasmuch as the device is intended for use under rough and adverse conditions which subject it to wide variations in temperature as well as moisture conditions of the atmosphere, it is preferably made entirely of metal, and as a convenient and preferred construction the main frame is com- Specification of Letters Patent.

posed of a metal strip of suitable cross secwhich devlces of this kind are sub ected.

tion and weight, bent into a substantially Patented July *7, 1914.

Application filed May 29, 1913. Serial No. 770,805.

U-shape, forming. a base A and side pieces or uprights B, B. The uprights B, B are rigidly connected to resist distortion by connecting members preferably in the form ofdiagonal braces B riveted firmly to the uprights B', B, and usually of metal strips which correspond in cross section and weight to the uprights. The frame thus formed is adapted to be held in vertical position by a foot or cross piece which may be a simple strip C, pivotally connected at its center to the base A thereby adapting it to be turned at an angle to the base so as to extend on opposite sides thereof when the frame is to be held upr ght, or to be turned substantially parallel with the base when the device is to be folded for storage or transportation. The whole frame is preferably or metal having a low-co-eflicient of expansion, such, for example, as iron or steel.

The uprights B, B are adapted to support a cross lever I) which for simplicity of construction may be a thin metal strip suitably guided at its ends in vertical slots or kerfs (Z, d, formed in the upper ends of the uprights, and the bottom of one of said slots or kerfs conveniently form the pivot orfulcrum for the lever. As thus constructed the lever projects at its ends beyond the uprights and has one very long arm and one very short arm extending on opposite sides of the pivot or fulcrum. To the short arm of the lever there is pivotally connected the upper end ofalong rod E formed of a metal having ahigh co-eiiicient of expansion, such for example, as brass, the lower end of said rod being adjustably connected with the lower portion of the upright. This 'rod E is conveniently guided at its upper ends in a suitable bearing in a bracket 6 and at its lower end is threaded and passed through an opening in a bracket 6 with adjusting nuts 6 above and below the bracket whereby an accurate adjustment of the rod may be effected and the rod locked securely in its adjusted position. The rod E extends parallel with the uprights B and is effectually protected thereby so that it is not liable to be-bent or distorted in the rough usage to to be ignited is held in a suitablereceptacle or located on the ground at the side of the frame and inposition'to receive the contents of the receptacle. In the preferred-com struction the igniter receptacle is mounted on a. swinging arm or carrier G pivotally connected with the upright B at the lower end and at its upper end adapted to engage a notch or tooth g on the under edge of thelongarm of the lever, the'position of the-axis of theearrier being such that. its weight and the weight of the receptacle F normally tend to turn the same down to the position indicated in Fig. 2, and discharge the igniter material. To protect the con tents of the receptacle from rain, dust,.etc., it is preferably provided with a swinging cover 7 normally occupying an inclined position as shown in Fig. l, but adapted to swing out to the position shown in Fig. 2

' when the receptacle is dropped to discharge its contents whereby the free discharge of the contents of the receptacle is assured.

In making use of the device the receptacle F, is filled with a chemical igniter composition which when discharged upon the smudge material or material to be lgnited will cause the automatic or spontaneous combustion of said mater1al, and the device is set in such relation to the smudge ma terial that the receptacle will discharge its contents into contact therewith. The thermostatic rod E is adjusted to effect the release ofthe receptacle when the temperature drops to the degree where danger conditionsprevail, and the receptacle is adjusted inits upright position in engagement with the long arm of the lever. The device is left under these conditions of adjustments and should the temperature drop to the danger point, the contraction of the thermostaticbar releases the receptacle thereby discharging its contents and automatically inaugurating a combustion of the material provided for the protection of the orchard or vineyard in which the device is located.

The whole device, it will be. noted, is of exceedingly simple construct-ion, cheap to manufacture, and may be stored and transported in a compact and convenient form.

: WVhat we claim is, ,1; A: device of the character descrlbed embodying a self-supporting frame having uprights, a movable igniter carrier mounted on one of said uprights, a retainlng lever for holding saidjigniter carrier normally in inoperative position, and a thermostatic bar pivotally connected with said lever andextending parallel with the other upright.

' 2'. A deviceof the character described embodying a vertically arranged frame, an

igniter carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a lever for retaining said igniter carrier normally in inoperative position, and a thermostat for moving said lever to releasethe-igniter carrier when the temperature drops to a predetermined degree.

3. A device of the character described embodying a. vertically arranged: frame, ;an

igniter carrier pivotally mounted on the uppervportion ofsaid frame, a lever extend ing. transversely. of; and: pivot-ally mounted on-the. frame and cooperatingjwith the carrier to hold .thesame in inoperative: position, and; a thermostatic bar connectedqwith said lever at. its upper end and adjustably connected with-:the frame at its. lower end fonmoving; said lever to release the carrier when the temperature drops to a predetermined degree.

4. In a device such as described, the :combination with the frame embodying the uprights and base piece, a transversely extend ing foot; piece pivotally mounted on the base: piece, and braces rigidly connecting the uprights, of, a lever pivotally mounted on one'upright and guided by the: other to Y swing vertically, a thermostatic bar con,- nected withone end of said lever and ad-, justably connected with one upright, an

igniter carrier .pivotally mounted on the other upright and cooperating with the lever whereby,itis retained in inoperative position, the arrangement being. such that thelever islmoved .torelease said igniter static bar dueto a drop in temperature. 5. Ina device such 'asdescribed, the come carrier by the contraction of thethermo;

iio

bination with the frame embodying uprights and base piece, a transversely extending foot pivotally connected with the base piece" whereby it may be folded, into substantial parallelism therewith, a brace rigidly connecting the. uprights, an igniter carrier pivotally mounted on oneof said. uprights to. swing. do-wnwardly'by gravity,-=. and;a lever extending transversely between; the;uprights and cooperating with the igniter carrier to,

hold the same in inoperative position, of athermostatic bar pivotally connected with one-end of the lever, a bracket in which said thermostatic baris mounted, and an ad justable, connection between the: lower end of the thermostatic bar and frame, substane tially as described.

" 6. In a device such as described, the coins binati-on w-iththe vertical frame embodying I v uprights slotted at their upper ends, a lever pivotally mounted in one of said slots and carrier, and a gravitating cover for said guided to move vertically in the other of receptacle.

said SlOtS, and a thermostat for moving said lever on its axis of an i niter carrier pivotally mounted on one 0? said uprights and ANDREW JOSEPH KILLEEN' coiiperating with the lever whereby it is Witnesses: held in inoperative position, a receptacle H. F. GOECKEL (Miss), for the ignition material mounted on said H. H. HARRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each; by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

